Choosing to Be Alcohol Free

1. Choosing to Be Alcohol Free

2. Immediate Effects of Alcohol Consumption • Depressant – a drug that slows the central nervous system • Affects motor skills • Intoxication – the state in which the body is poisoned by alcohol or another substance and the person’s physical and mental control is significantly reduced • Intoxication varies from person to person • Body size, stomach contents, amount of alcohol, etc.

3. Factors that influence alcohol use • Peer pressure • Family • Media messages • Many are targeted to a teen audience

4. Advertising Techniques • Spend billions of dollars to sell their product • Advertisements are every where • Alcohol companies sponsor events (sporting events, concerts, art festivals, etc) to get their name out

5. Alcohol’s role in unsafe situations • Accidents related to Drinking and Driving are the number one cause of death and disability for teens • Alcohol is also linked with deaths by drowning, fire, suicide, and homicide • Lowers your inhibitions

6. Statistics • Alcohol is a key factor in … • 33% of suicides • 50% of homicides • 62% of assaults • 68% of manslaughter cases • 50% of head injuries • 41% of traffic fatalities • Domestic abuse and injury, child abuse and neglect, and workplace injuries • More than 50% of all drowning incidents

7. Alcohol and the Law • If you are under 21, it is illegal to buy, possess or consume alcohol • Can be arrested, fined and sentenced to a youth detention center • MIP – Minor in Possession • PI – Public Intoxication • DUI – Driving Under the Influence • DWI – Driving While Intoxicated

8. Alcohol, Violence, and Sexual Activity • Teens who drink alcohol are more likely to be involved in violent crimes • Rape, aggravated assault, and robbery • Also fights • Alcohol and sexual activity • Teens who drink are more likely to become sexually active at earlier ages, engage in sexual activity more often, and engage in unprotected sex more often • Impairs a person’s judgment • Lowers inhibitions • Compromises moral standards

9. Alcohol Abuse • Alcohol abuse – the excessive use of alcohol • 25% of youth are exposed to family alcohol abuse • Higher risk for neglect, abuse, economic hardship, and social isolation • Sometimes these problems can lead to trying alcohol to escape

10. Extracurricular Activities • Zero-tolerance policy • If students are caught using alcohol, they may become ineligible or suspended from activities or school

11. Being Alcohol Free • Maintain a healthy body • Make responsible decisions • Avoid risky behavior • Avoid illegal activities

12. Strategies for Preventing Use of Alcohol • Be assertive • Refuse to drink • Leave the situation quickly • Call for a ride home • Avoid parties where alcohol is served • Practice refusal skills

13. Harmful Effects of Alcohol Use

14. Short-term Effects of Drinking • Nervous System • Brain – less able to control the body • Movement, speech and vision may be affected • Memory – thought processes are disorganized • Memory and concentration dulled • Judgment is altered • Coordination is impaired

15. Short-term Effects of Alcohol • Cardiovascular system • Heart • Low intake • Increase in heart rate and blood pressure • Higher intake • Heart rate and blood pressure decrease • Heart rhythm becomes irregular • Risk of cardiac arrest increases • Blood Vessels • Blood vessels expand • Increased surface area of blood vessels allows body heat to escape and body temperature to drop

16. Short-term effects of alcohol • Digestive system • Stomach • Some alcohol passes quickly from the stomach to the blood stream • Stomach acid production increases…often results in nausea and vomiting • Liver • Toxic chemicals are releases as the liver metabolizes alcohol…causing inflammation and scarring • Kidneys • Increase in urine output…can lead to dehydration

17. Short-term effects of alcohol • Respiratory system • Lungs • Carbon dioxide is formed by the liver and released through the lungs • Breathing • Alcohol depresses nerves that control involuntary functions (breathing) • In excess, breathing may slow, become irregular, or stop

19. Factors that influence the short-term effects • Body size and gender • Smaller people feel the effects faster • Food • Slows down the passage of alcohol into the bloodstream • Amount and Rate of intake • When a person drinks faster, the liver can’t break it down quickly enough…leading to intoxication

20. Alcohol and Drug Interactions • Alcohol-drug interactions are a factor in ¼ of all emergency room visits • Multiplier effect – the medicine has a greater or different effect than if it were taken alone

21. Driving Under the Influence • Drinking and Driving is the leading cause of death for teenagers • Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) – the amount of alcohol in a person’s blood • DUI – Driving Under the Influence • DWI – Driving While Intoxicated

22. Consequences of DWI • Harm to driver and others • Restricted driving privileges and/or confiscation of driver’s license • Alcohol-related injuries, property damage, and death • Living with regret • Loss of parental trust and respect • Arrest, jail time, court appearance, heavy fine or bail • Police record and possible lawsuits • Higher insurance rates – up to 3x higher than non-drinking peers

23. Every day, eight teens die in alcohol-related car crashes in the United States

25. Binge Drinking • Drinking five or more alcohol drinks at one sitting • Can cause alcohol poisoning…can lead to death • Alcohol poisoning – a severe and potentially fatal physical reaction to an alcohol overdose • Depressant – shuts down involuntary actions (breathing and the gag reflex – prevents choking)

26. Effects of Alcohol Poisoning • Passing out • Alcohol is still entering the blood stream after a person passes out • BAC continues to rise • Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning • Mental confusion, coma, vomiting and seizures • Slow respiration – less than 8 breaths a minute • Irregular heart beat • Hypothermia – low body temperature • Severe dehydration

27. Long-term Effects of Alcohol Abuse • Changes to the Brain • Addiction – inability to stop drinking • Loss of brain functions – loss of verbal skills, visual and spatial skills, and memory • Brain damage • Reduction of brain size and Frontal Lobe Development

28. Long-term effects of alcohol abuse • Cardiovascular changes • Heart – damage to the muscle • Enlarged heart – from increased workload • High blood pressure – damages the heart and can cause heart attack/stroke

29. Long-term effects of alcohol abuse • Liver Problems • Fatty liver • Fats build up in the liver and cannot be broken down • Excess fat blocks the flow of blood – leads to cell death • Alcohol hepatitis • Inflammation or infection of the liver • Cirrhosis • Liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue • Can lead to live failure and death – need a liver transplant

30. Long-term effects of alcohol abuse • Digestive System Problems • Irritation • Digestive lining is damaged – can lead to stomach ulcers and cancer • Pancreas Problems • Lining of the pancreas swells to block the passage from the pancreas to the small intestine • Chemicals (needed for digestion) can’t pass • Chemicals begin to destroy pancreas – causes pain and vomiting – can lead to death

31. Alcohol during pregnancy • When a mother drinks, alcohol passes from the mother’s body into the bloodstream of the fetus • Fetus’ liver is not developed enough to filter alcohol • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) – a group of alcohol-related birth defects that include physical and mental problems • Can occur even if the mother drinks before she knows she is pregnant

32. Effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome • Born with a small head and deformities of the face, hands, or feet • Heart, liver, and kidney defects • Vision and hearing problems • Experience slow growth and coordination • Have difficulties with learning, attention, memory, and problem solving • FAS is the leading known cause of mental retardation in the US

33. Preventing FAS • There is NO safe amount of alcohol to drink • Even small amounts can harm a fetus • NO safe time to drink alcohol

34. Alcoholism • Alcoholism – a disease in which a person has a physical or psychological dependence on drinks that contain alcohol • Characterized by an impaired ability to study, work, and socialize normally

35. Alcoholism • Alcoholic – an addict who is dependent on alcohol • Symptoms • Craving – a strong need to drink • Loss of control – cannot limit his/her drinking • Physical dependence – may experience withdrawal symptoms (nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety) when not drinking • Tolerance – need to drink more to feel the effects • Health, family, and legal problems

36. Factors Affecting Alcoholics • Genetic link • Children of alcoholics are 4x more likely to become alcoholics • Environmental factors • Family • Friends • Culture • Peer pressure • Availability of alcohol • Stress

37. Stages of Alcoholism • Stage 1 – Abuse • Begins with social drinking • A person begins to drink and become intoxicated regularly • A person may start to lie or make excuses about his/her drinking • Start to develop a tolerance • May be a problem drinker

38. Stages of Alcoholism • Stage 2 – Dependence • The person cannot stop drinking – physically dependent on the drug • Alcohol is the person’s central focus • Drinker tries to hide the problem • Performance starts to suffer • Makes excuses/blames others for the problem

39. Stages of Alcoholism • Stage 3 – Addiction • Drinking is the most important thing in the person’s life • Liver damage is common at this stage – less alcohol may be required to intoxicate the person • If they stop drinking, they would experience severe withdrawal symptoms

40. Effects on Society • Estimated 14 million alcoholics in the US • Factor in the 4 leading causes of death • Car accidents • Falls • Drowning • House fires • Plays major role in violent crimes • ~40% (3 million) crimes are alcohol-related • 2/3 domestic violence cases are alcohol-related • ½ of all homicide victims have alcohol in their system

41. Effects on Family • Codependency • Codependents learn to ignore their own needs and focus their energy and emotions on the needs of the alcoholic • Codependents lose their trust in others, their self-esteem, and sometimes their own health

42. Treatment for Alcohol Abuse • Recovery – the process of learning to live an alcohol-free life • Steps to recovery • Admission – person admits to having a problem • Detoxification – a process in which the body adjusts to functioning without alcohol • Counseling – to help learn to live without alcohol • Recovery – takes responsibility of his/her own life • Sobriety – living without alcohol • Lifelong commitment

43. Getting help • For the alcoholic • Alcoholics Anonymous – AA • For friends and family of alcoholics • Al-Anon/Alateen • National Association for Children of Alcoholics • To get information • National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information • National Drug and Treatment Referral Routing Service • Provides treatment referral and information about treatment facilities